Alacati lures you in with its flower-filled streets, beautiful stone houses and sumptuous cuisine. It also boasts some of Turkey's best boutique hotels, fantastic shopping and a cosmopolitan cafe culture.

Things to do

It's hard to resist the allure of Alacati's charismatic town centre. Its cobbled streets are lined with stone terrace houses adorned with brightly painted shutters, colourful flowers and cascading bougainvillea vines. You can browse upmarket boutiques and open-air market stalls selling jewellery, leather goods and handcrafted ornaments.

Every Saturday, Alacati holds a weekly market on Sehitlik Caddesi, one of the town's main thoroughfares. It's a fantastic place to pick up organic produce, freshly picked Aegean herbs, artisan cheese, hand-loomed textiles and original art.

Thanks to its position on the Cesme Peninsula, Alacati is just a few kilometres from the sparkling Aegean Sea. It’s 15 minutes from beaches like Ilıca Plaji, a stunning stretch of sand known for its glassy water and oceanic thermal springs. Fun Beach is a family favourite, boasting colourful umbrellas, beach lounges and oceanfront restaurants.

Alacati offers plenty of opportunities to wine and dine. If you visit just one restaurant, make it Asma Yapragi, known for its tantalising meze platters. In summer you can snag a table in the fig tree-shaded courtyard.

Getting around

Alacati is easy to get around on foot, with many of the streets in the Old Town pedestrianised. Taxis and minibuses will get you to nearby beaches in around 15 minutes. Izmir's Adnan Menderes Airport is a one-hour drive from Alacati.